Kurotsuki Renya was hurled backward, smashing into the rocky face of the mountain. Gravel exploded outward, a wave of dust rising into the air.
BOOM.
From within the rubble, Renya burst free, arcs of azure lightning crawling across his body. The air rippled faintly around him, an invisible distortion shimmering like heatwaves.
It was his Electromagnetic Barrier, a defensive technique he had engineered through manipulation of lightning and reishi. By compressing electromagnetic energy into a field around his body, he could repel physical strikes and spiritual attacks alike.
Unlike his raw Raijin Shield, this barrier provided omnidirectional coverage—but at the cost of draining reiatsu at an alarming rate. Still, Renya had deemed it worth the expenditure.
His Thunder Wings flared wide as he steadied himself, eyes narrowing at his assailant.
It was not a Shinigami. It was a Hollow—no, an Arrancar-like Hollow, easily three meters tall, a hulking beast with thick, simian arms and tattered wings sprouting from its back. It hovered unnaturally low to the ground, gliding like a shadow.
That explained why Renya had only caught the faintest sound before the strike landed.
"Jie jie jie… such powerful energy."
The Hollow grinned, jagged teeth bared as it spoke clearly in the tongue of men.
Renya's brows furrowed. "You can talk?"
Only a handful of Hollows could articulate speech so fluently. He'd only ever encountered Metastacia, whose intelligence far surpassed common Hollows. For one to appear here—so close to Seireitei, in the North Third District of Rukongai—meant something was deeply wrong.
Worse, it had approached without his sensing its reiatsu. This Hollow could conceal its spiritual pressure.
Dangerous. It has to be destroyed immediately.
Renya's wings flexed, and with a crack of thunder he vanished, reappearing behind the beast. His spear of lightning thrust forward.
But before it connected, his thunder collapsed. His Thunder Wings flickered out, arcs sputtering into nothing. His Zanpakutō reverted to sealed state in his hands.
The spear struck, but the beast's hide was as hard as steel, shrugging off the blow.
BOOM.
The creature pivoted, slamming a fist into Renya. He was sent flying, crashing through a thick tree before tumbling across the dirt, blood spilling from his lips.
Renya grimaced, staring at his Zanpakutō. No matter how he called, there was no response. His release had been forcibly negated.
The Hollow sneered. "I am Ramirez. I can nullify the first thunder-element Zanpakutō that strikes me each day."
Renya's pupils shrank. The ability to nullify Zanpakutō…!
It echoed Metastacia's power, which had erased Shinigami Zanpakutō spirits on contact. Yet it also resembled the Arrancar Wonderweiss Margela, who had sealed away Captain Yamamoto's flames.
This… this was engineered. Only Aizen could create something like this.
Had Aizen designed Ramirez's ability specifically to counter him? But why? Renya had gone out of his way to avoid investigating Aizen, to remain unnoticed. He'd restrained himself, avoided drawing attention.
Then why…? Why target me?
Before he could unravel the thought, two shadows appeared high above, descending calmly.
Aizen Sōsuke and Ichimaru Gin.
Gin smirked, eyes narrowed to slits. "Well, well. This little one's full of surprises."
Aizen's voice was smooth, detached. "After he destroyed Metastacia, I had inspiration. So I constructed Ramirez—an entity designed to seal Zanpakutō of a specific attribute."
Gin tilted his head, amused. "Even without his Zanpakutō, he's still strong. If I fought him bare-handed, I doubt I'd win."
Aizen's gaze flicked sideways. "So with your Zanpakutō, you believe you could defeat him?"
Gin chuckled, lips curling into his sly grin. "Captain Aizen, you wound me. You know I don't like overestimating myself. This boy's dangerous—I wouldn't bet on it either way."
Aizen ignored the deflection. His eyes returned to the battlefield. "Ramirez's ability is weaker than Metastacia's. Metastacia erased spirits entirely. Ramirez is more limited. Which is why…"
Purple smoke burst outward, engulfing Renya. He coughed violently as arcs of lightning fizzled from his body and vanished.
"What—my reishi manipulation—!?"
CRASH.
Ramirez's fist hammered into him again. Renya barely managed to cross his arms before impact, but the blow sent him reeling into the ground.
Aizen's voice carried across the wind. "Ramirez's second ability: the Null Field. That smoke destabilizes electromagnetic energy, erasing all thunder-based constructs. Your powers are meaningless before him."
Gin's eyes glimmered. "Two abilities—both built to snuff him out. Tell me, Captain Aizen, you've been designing these toys just for this kid?"
Aizen's expression didn't shift. "Hardly. He is merely a convenient test subject. My true concern is another man. Unless I can counter his flames, my plans cannot proceed."
Gin's smirk sharpened. "…Genryūsai."
Aizen nodded faintly. "There is no other in Seireitei whose power threatens me so completely. But contingencies must be layered. That boy is useful for my research."
⸻
Renya, unaware he was a pawn in Aizen's schemes, staggered to his knees. His arms screamed with pain—fractured at least, his strength waning. Without his Zanpakutō, without his lightning, he was crippled. Ramirez's raw power rivaled that of a lieutenant-class combatant, but his speed was far greater.
I can't win. The only choice is retreat.
But the moment the thought sparked, Ramirez dropped from the sky in a blur, slamming into the ground where Renya had stood a heartbeat earlier.
Renya flickered sideways with Shunpo, only to feel Ramirez's fist crash into his back.
So fast… this speed matches my own Flash Step…
BOOM.
Renya was smashed into a cliff wall, sliding down with a groan.
"Jie jie jie…"
Ramirez's laugh echoed as he stalked forward.
Suddenly, flames erupted in a spiral.
"Hadō #31: Shakkahō! Bakudō #26: Kyakko! Hadō #32: Ōkasen!"
The three Kidō merged, detonating into a storm of fire and light that engulfed Ramirez in a roaring explosion.
Aizen's brows lifted faintly. Gin whistled low.
"Well, well. Triple-layered Kidō? Clever brat."
Renya had crafted the fusion to amplify destructive output—far beyond a lone Shakkahō. The blast tore the ground apart, cloaking Ramirez in fire and smoke.
But when the Hollow emerged, his massive frame was only charred and scarred, not destroyed. A handful of wounds marred his hide, but his body remained intact.
It was no surprise. Even a Menos Grande could shrug off mid-level Hadō. Ramirez's reinforced body, sculpted by Aizen, was far sturdier.
Still, when Ramirez blinked through the smoke, Renya was gone.
"Where…? Where did he go?" Ramirez growled, scanning wildly.
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